Asbestos Cancer Stages

Asbestos cancer is a tumor that occurs due to a prolonged exposure to asbestos particles. Asbestos is a type of material which is used in the construction of houses and is well known for maintaining a uniform temperature. These asbestos particles are very harmful for our body and their inhalation can lead to life-threatening disease like lung cancer and mesothelioma. Construction workers, laborers, plumbers, electricians and people working in mines are mostly diagnosed with this tumor due to their prolonged exposure to asbestos particles. The tumor tends to attack the respiratory and the digestive system. Asbestos cancer stages are generally divided into four types. At each stage, the severity of the tumor keeps increasing whereas the chances of survival keep minimizing.

Treating this cancer at early stages increases the chances of survival. So it is very important to detect asbestos cancer at early stages, diagnose it correctly and follow the necessary treatment.

Symptoms of Asbestos cancer are as follows:

Breathing Problems

Digestion problems

Weakness in immune system

Excessive coughing

Continuous low fever

Headache

Nausea

Diagnosis:

The tumor is diagnosed with the help of certain tests like Biopsy, Thorascopy, Thorasenticis and Laparoscopy. These tests give a brief idea about the type of tumor and to what extent it has spread in the body. Accurate diagnosis is very essential as it helps to select the appropriate treatment and thus increases the chances of survival.

Treatment:

There are various types of treatments which are used for curing asbestos cancer. These treatments comprise of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy and palliative therapy. Out of all these treatments, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used on a large scale.

Asbestos Cancer Stages:

This cancer is generally divided into four stages. The severity of the tumor tends to increase at each stage. The stages of this cancer as explained below:-

Stage 1:

This stage is considered as the initial stage of the tumor. At this stage, the tumor occurs in one side of the chest. There are hardly any symptoms that are observed at this stage as the tumor is incompletely developed. It is almost impossible to diagnose this cancer at this stage.

Stage 2:

Even this stage is considered as the initial stage of the tumor. At this stage, the tumor starts developing and affects the lymph nodes of the lungs. It also spreads to the diaphgram and the outer lung parts. At this stage, the person starts losing his weight, has digestion problems and low fever. If the tumor is detected at this stage, there are 40 percent chances of curing this tumor.

Stage 3:

This stage is considered as the advanced stage of the tumor. At this stage the tumor affects the lymph nodes of the lungs and spreads to other parts of the body. It affects the digestive system and so the person is not able to digest his food. Due to this problems like vomiting are observed. As the immune system becomes weak the body is prone to wide number of diseases. So the person suffers from various problems like constant fever, nausea, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain etc. It is very important to diagnose this cancer at this stage and start the treatment as early as possible. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the widely used treatments at this stage as they help to get rid of the tumor as early as possible.

Stage 4:

This stage is considered as the last stage of the tumor. At this stage, the tumor has spread to the farthest parts of the body. At this stage, the body is controlled entirely by the tumor. The person tends to lose control over his body parts at this stage. The tumor spreads from the chest to the spine, to the heart and to other parts of the body via bloodstream. At this stage, the person is not able to digest his food and suffers from a wide range of infections. There are very rare chances of survival at this stage as the patient is not on a condition to respond to any kind of treatment. Radiation therapy is the most recommended treatment option at this stage as it destroys the tumor and the malignant cells in a very less time.

Asbestos cancer is considered as a life threatening disease as the tumor that occurs due to this cancer grows rapidly and spreads to other parts of the body. The severity of the tumor increases as the cancer passes from one stage to other. It is very important to control this tumor at early stages and follow a suitable treatment. Treatment of asbestos cancer at early stages ensures the cure of the disease. Nature of the tumor, its characteristics, symptoms and diagnosis determines the suitable treatment for this tumor.